Aerating device



April 29, 1958 R. T. GOODRIE ETAL 2,832,577

AERATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1957 INVENTORS. mondf'oodn'e, BY u'fiyaimf 60065219,

United States Patent AERATING DEVICE Raymond T. Goodrie, Calumet City,and Joseph J.

Goodrie, Lansing, IlL, assignors to Wrightway Engineering Co., Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 15, 1957, Serial No.634,252 Claims. (Cl. 261-76) This invention relates to improvements inaerating devices of the type adapted to be connected to water faucetsand the like.

Aerating devices for mixing water and air are now widely known and usedon faucets and other water outlets. Such devices are highly useful andadvantageous because of their ability to produce a soft, bubbly,coherent stream which is substantially non-splashing and which containsa relatively large proportion of entrained air. Various constructionshave been proposed for such aerating devices, and the present inventionis directed particularly to improvements in a device of the generalcharacter described in Joseph J. Goodrie U. S. Patents Nos. 2,510,396and 2,761,662. In these prior patents the aerating device ischaracterized by a cylindrical casing having lateral air ports, anapertured disk for forming jets of water adjacent the air inlet ports,.abreak-up plug against which the jets impinge, a shield to preventsplashing of water outwardly through the air ports, and means at theoutlet end of the casing for coalescing the water and entrained air intoa coherent stream.

Although aerating devices of the aforementioned type are highlyeffective and are in widespread use, it has been found that byincorporating certain structural modifications it is possible to obtaina softer stream with improved non-splash characteristics and with lesstendency for water to be diverted through the air ports in case ofpartial restriction or obstruction of flow in the device. At the sametime, the present invention retains the other functional, and structuraladvantages inherent in the devices shown in the aforementioned patents.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea novel aerator construction which is adapted to produce a coherentaerated stream having improved softness and non-splash characteristicsas compared with prior devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel aerator of theforegoing type which is. further characterized by compactness andsimplicity of structure so as to comply with plumbing regulations andalso to facilitate cleaning of the device by mechanically inexperiencedpersons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an aerator comprising one specificembodiment of the invention and showing the aerator attached to a faucetoutlet;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded view of the device showing the manner ofassembly of the component parts;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line5-5 of Fig. 2; and

"ice

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the device as seen in Fig. 2.

Referring to. the drawing, the aerator device has an externalcylindrical casing or sleeve 10 which is of rela-- tively short axiallength and which has internal screw threads 11 at its inlet end forattachment of the device to the threaded outlet of a faucet, as shownfragmentarily at 12. The wall of the casing 10 is formed with aplurality of lateral slots or openings 13 which serve as air ports foradmitting air to the interior of the device. In the present instance,three such slots 13 are provided in circumferentially spaced relationaround the casing- 10 but any desired number of openings may be used.

Immediately below the slots 13, the inner wall of the casing 10 isprovided with a small annular shoulder or ledge 14 upon which is seateda lateral flange 16 extending outwardly from the lower end of an uprightannular collar or skirt 17. As will best be seen in Fig. 2, the skirt 17is disposed in concentric inwardly spaced relation from the wall of thecasing 10 and extends above and below the slots 13 so as to shield thelatter. If desired, the lateral flange portion 16 of the skirt 17 mayhave a relatively tight frictional fit within the casing 10, but this isnot essential and the skirt 17 also may be mounted in the casing 10 inreadily detachable and removable relation therewith.

On the upper axial end of the skirt 17 is disposed aspacer element inthe form of a circular washer or disk 18 having a plurality of scallopedopenings or serrations 19 spaced circumferentially around the outerperipheral edge of the washer. As will be apparent particularly fromFigs. 4 and 5, the solid edge or tooth portions 21 intermediate theopenings 19 of the washer seat against the upper axial end of the skirt17 and the radial dimensions of the openings 19 are such that theopenings extend radially inwardly beyond the skirt 17. Superimposed onthe spacer disk 18 is a disk 22 having a plurality of apertures oropenings 23 arranged, in this case, in circular fashion (Fig. 4). Ashereinafter described, the spacer disk 18 and superimposed apertureddisk 22 have a loose fit within the upper portion of the casing 10 so asto be readily removable therefrom. When the aerator device is mounted onthe end of a faucet, as in Figs. 1 and 2, a gasket 24 of rubber or thelike is interposed between the disk 22 and the open end of the faucet 12so as to provide a water-tight seal with the result that water underpressure from the faucet 12 is forced through the apertures 23 to form amultiplicity of substantially independent or discrete jets which aresurrounded by air.

A depending break-up or mixing body in the form of a plug 26 issuspended centrally from the disk 22, the

break-up plug being provided in this instance with anupper reduced endportion 27 which extends through a central opening 28 in the disk 22 andis upset or deformed at its projecting end in the general manner of ariveted" connection. The break-up plug 26 has a generally ogival ormushroom shape including a restricted neck portion 29 immediately belowthe apertured disk 22 and an abrupt radially extending enlargement orbulbous portion 31 which provides the primary water jet break-upfunction of the plug. The enlargement 31 has a smoothly curved anddownwardly sloping annular shoulder portion 32 dis- 23. In other words,all of the apertures 23 are disposed within the confines of the enlargedopening 33 in the that the jets of water is-' underlying spacer elementso suing from the apertures 23 may impinge direotlyagainst the curvedshoulder 32 of the break-up plug. An elon Patented Apr. 29, 1958' gatedcylindrical stem or tail portion 33 of reduced diameter dependsintegrally from the enlargement 31 of the break-up plug 26 andterminates a slight distance above the open lower end of the casing 10.

"The innerv wall of the lower portion of the casing below the shoulder14 is formed with a series of stepped annular shoulders 34, the innerdiameter of the casing 10 decreasing in stepwise fashion from shoulderto shoulder in the direction of fluid fiow toward the outlet openingwhich is designated at 36. As hereinafter described, the function of thestepped shoulders 34 is to provide additional break-up surfaces for themixed stream of water and air and to promote coalescence so as todischarge a coherent bubbly stream from the casing outlet 36. In orderto'retard the flow of fluid to a somewhat greater degree and therebypromote increased softness of the efiluent stream, it is preferred thatthe shoulders 34 be disposed at a slight angle, as best seen in Fig. 2,directed downwardly and radially outwardly of the device. In otherWords, the slanted shoulders 34 provide in efiect slight undercut orre-entrant surfaces as opposed to the direction of fluid flow.

As described more fully in the aforementioned Goodrie Patent No.2,761,662, the construction of the present aerator also providesseparate sub-assemblies, as seen in the exploded view of Fig. 3, whichmay readily be taken apart for cleaning purposes and reassembled withlittle. chance of error by even mechanically inexperienced persons. Inaddition, the simplicity of the construction and assembly greatlyfacilitates economical manufacture of the device.

In operation, water under pressure enters the upper or inlet end of thecasing 10 and is forced through the small apertures 23 in the disk 22thereby creating a multiplicity of fine separate jets of water below thedisk 22. The space 37 (Fig. 2) as defined below the disk 22 and betweenthe periphery of the central opening 33 and the break-up plug 26constitutes in eifect a first mixing chamber or zone wherein the jets ofwater from the apertures 23 are first commingled with air. Because oftheir dis crete or relatively independent nature, the jets of waterissuing from the apertures 23 are entirely surrounded by air whichfreely enters the primary mixing chamber 37 in the manner'shown by thearrows in Fig. 2. Thus, outside air passes through the lateral slots 13and upwardly between the skirt 17 and the casing 10, and thence radiallyinwardly and downwardly through the scalloped openings 19 in the spacerelement 18 into the interior of the aerating device. As will beapparent, a portion'of the incoming air thereby has access to theprimary mixing chamber 37 for initial contact with the water jetsissuing from the apertures 23.

As the water jets pass downwardly through the space 37' while surroundedby air, the air becomes entrained in the jets and the latter thenimpinge with considerable force against the curved shoulder portion 32of the breakup plug resulting in vigorous splashing and rebound of' thewater streams outwardly into engagement with the vertical peripheraledge of the opening 33 and particularly against the lower corner edge ofthe opening 33. This corner edge causes highly beneficial break-up andsplitting of the rebounding water spray so that some of the water fromthe multiplicity of jets will alsobe diverted against the underside ofthe spacer disk 18 at the solid radial tooth portions 21 thereof andalso radially outwardly against the upright skirt 17. Thus, it will beunderstood that extensive break-up and commingling of the water jetswith air takes place to a considerableextent in they primary mixing zone37 and also to a further extent in the adjacent annular space,designated at 38, between the upright skirt 17 and the bulbousenlargement-31 of the break-up plug. The zone 38 may, therefore, be.considered as a second break-up and mixing chamber. "One ofrthe featureswhich distinguishes the. present, invention from the aerator devicesheretofore known resides in the location and form of the shield 16-17.During the break-up and mixing action and splashing of water in thezones 37 and 38, it will be understood that the upright skirt 17 whichextends both above and below the air ports 13 serves efiectively toshield the air ports so as to prevent water from splashing outwardlythrough the ports and obstructing free passage of air to the interior ofthe aerating device. However, in the aerating devices of this generaltype heretofore proposed, the skirt or shield for the air ports has beenconnected to the aerator structure above the air inlet ports with thelower end of the skirt extending below the air ports but being free andopen so that in order to gain access to the mixing chamber all of theair had to pass inwardly through the lateral ports, downwardly betweenthe skirt and the casing, and thence underneath the lower end of theskirt and upwardly into the zone wherein the major amount of waterbreak-up and airwater mixing was accomplished. Consequently, in suchprior devices it was necessary for the incoming air to enter the primarybreak-up and mixing chamber by passing in an upward directioncountercurrent to the general downward direction of flow of the waterstream.

In the present invention, as most clearly seen in Fig. 2, the lower endof the upright skirt 17 is etfectively closed against the passage of airby means of the terminal flange portion 16 engaging the inner wall ofthe casing 10, and as a result incoming air must necessarily passupwardly and over the top of the skirt 17 in order to gain access to theinterior of the aerating device. Of course, one function of the spacerelement 18 with the edge openings 19 is to provide the necessaryclearance or channels for the passage of air over the top of the skirt17. A certain amount of the air thus entering the interior of the devicemust then flow laterally and generally upwardly into the primary mixingand break-up chamber 37 and to this extent some of the inlet air mustpass in a countercurrent direction relative to the incoming water jets.However, it will also be seen that the remainder of the air necessarilypasses downwardly into the secondary break-up zone 33 and this portionof the air fiow is concurrent with respect to the general direction offlow of the water. Consequently, the above described combination of theshield 16-17 and the spacer means 1819- 21 provides a bafile arrangementwhich greatly facilitates the entrainment of extra quantities of air inthe secondary break-up zone 38 by reason of the concurrent flow of airand water in this region and the aspirator eiiect inherent in suchconcurrent flow.

As compared with prior aerator devices wherein substantially all'of theentering air was required to flow downwardly and thence upwardly belowthe lower end of the skirt in order to gain access to a primary mixingvolume ofthe space defined by the scalloped edge openings 19 besufficient to insure substantially unobstructed free passage of air intothe interior of the aerating device. The shield arrangement of thepresent invention also diminishes to a greater extent than washeretofore possible any tendency for water to back-up and dischargethrough the slots 13 when there is a partial obstruction to flow'in theinterior of the device.

In addition to the above described advantage of the air flow path infacilitating the entrainment of increased quantities of air in the waterstream, the desirable softness and non-splashing properties are alsoenhanced by the fact that the construction provides two successivebreak-up and mixing zones 37 and 38. Part of'the brealeup and splashingof the water jets with preliminary commingling of water and air takesplace in the zone 37, but a further degree of break-up and splashingwith entrainment of increased amounts of air also occurs inthe secondaryzone 38. In order to obtain most eflective operation it is necessarythat the zones 37 and 38 be separated by a relatively restricted passageor annular orifice as defined between the lower corner edge of theopening 33 in the washer 18 and the opposed sloping shoulder 32 of thebreak-up plug. As will be evident from Fig. 2, this annular orifice oropening is the narrowest or most restricted point in the entire flowpassage below the disk 22 and it is this restriction which is in largemeasure responsible for the proper functioning of the more or lessseparate break-up chambers 37 and 38 resulting in an aerated stream ofimproved properties.

' While it is necessary that the orifice restriction between the lowercorner edge of the washer opening 33 and the break-up plug be selectedto provide a definite resistance to the passage of fluid, at the sametime it is also essential for proper operation of the break-up chamber37 that the area of this annular orifice be at least slightly greaterthan the combined area of the openings 23 in the disk 22. Otherwise,there would be an undesirable tendency, especially at high flow rates,for incoming water to collect in and fill up the space 37. Under suchconditions, the independent or discrete nature of the individual waterjets issuing from the apertures 23 would be lost and there would be noeffective impingement and splashing of separate water jets as requiredfor effective air-water mixing and air entrainment. Likewise, theminimum cross sectional area in the annular space 38 between the skirt17 and the plug portion 31 must likewise be greater than the area of theannularflow restriction orifice and greater than the total area of theopenings 23. In this way, there will be no tendency for the space 38 torun full of water.

As the aerated mixture of water and air passes from the secondary mixingchamber 38 into the region of the stepped shoulder portions 34,additional break up and splashing of water also occurs between thestepped shoulder 34 and the break-up plug 26 as heretofore described.Moreover, as previously mentioned, the undercut angular relation of theshoulders 34 retards to a certain degree the flow of the fluid streamand further enhances the desirable softness of the stream. Moreimportantly, however, the series of stepped shoulders 34 coacting withthe coaxially disposed stem portion 33 of the breakup plug 26 serves tocoalesce the now thoroughly aerated water so that a coherent streamissues from the outlet 36 of the device. As will also be understood, thepresence of the elongated stem portion 33 on the plug 26 serves to fillor occupy the central portion of the casing 10 adjacent the outlet endthereof, thereby assisting in maintaining a proper outlet flow velocity.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularstructural embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that variousmodifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, a break-up and mixing body depending from saiddisk and adapted to have liquid jets from the apertures in the diskimpinge thereon, and generally annular bafile means disposed betweensaid ports and said body for diverting inlet air from said portsupwardly toward said disk and thence at least in part downwardly betweensaid baffle means and said body in generally concurrent relation withthe liquid flowing from said inlet to said outlet, said baffle meansbeing in engagement at its lower portion with the interior wall of saidcasing below said air ports to block the passage of air downwardly fromsaid air ports into said casing and extending upwardly in spacedrelation from said body and from the interior wall of said casing pastand above said air ports and being spaced at its upper portion from theunder surface of said disk.

2. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, a break-up and mixing body depending rigidly fromsaid disk and adapted to have liquid jets from the aper tures in thedisk impinge thereon, an annular shield having a generally upright skirtportion disposed in concentric spaced relation between said body andsaid ports for preventing splashing of fluid outwardly through thelatter, said shield also having a portion at the lower end of said skirtportion engaging the interior of said casing below said ports forpreventing passage of air downwardly between the casing and the shield,and spacer means supporting said disk with at least portions thereof inspaced relation above the upper end of said skirt portion whereby toprovide a passage for inlet air from saidports upwardly between thecasing and the skirt portion and thence inwardly over the upper end ofsaid skirt portion and downwardly between said skirt portion andsaidbody.

3. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely acrossrthe casing between saidinlet and said ports, a break-up and mixing body depending rigidly fromsaid disk and adapted to have liquid jets from the apertures in the diskimpinge thereon, an annular shield comprising an upright collarextending axially above and below said ports and disposed in concentricspaced relation between said body and said ports for preventingsplashing of fluid outwardly through the latter, an internal shoulder insaid-casing below said ports, said collar having an integral lateralflange portion at its lower axial end seated on said shoulder formounting the shield in the casing and also for preventing passage of airdownwardly between the casing and the shield, and spacer meansinterposed between the upper axial end of said collar and said disk forsupporting the latter with at least portions thereof in spaced relationabove the upper axial end of the collar whereby to provide a passage forinlet air from said ports upwardly between the casing and the collar andthence inwardly over the upper axial end of said collar and downwardlybetween said collar and said body into the interior of the device.

4. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat oppositeends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, a break-up and mixing body depending rigidly fromsaid disk and adapted to have liquid jets from the apertures in the diskimpinge thereon, an upright skirt disposed in concentric spaced relationbetween said body and said ports for preventing splashing of fluidoutwardly through the latter, meansclosing the annular space be.- tweensaid casing and the lower axial end of said skirt below said portswhereby to divert the passage of inlet air from the ports upwardlybetween the casingand the skirt, and an annular spacer elementinterposed between said disk and the upper axial end of said skirt, saidspacer element having inwardly extending openings in the peripheral edgethereof and overlying the upper axial end of said skirt whereby toprovide means for, the passage of air inwardly over the upper axial endof the skirt .and thence downwardly between said skirt and said bodyinto the interior of the device, said spacer element also having anenlarged central opening disposed below the apertures in said disk withsaid body depending therethrough from said disk.

5. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, an upright annular skirt disposed in concentricspaced relation between said body and said ports for preventingsplashing offluid outwardly through the latter, means closing theannular space between the casing and the lower axial end of said skirtbelow said ports so as to divert the passage of inlet air from saidports upwardly through the annular space between said casing and saidskirt, a spacer disk interposed between said apertured disk and theupper axial end of said skirt, said spacer disk having an enlargedcentral opening, a break-up and mixing body depending rigidly from saidapertured disk through the central opening in said spacer disk andhaving a radially enlarged portion underlying the apertures in saidapertured disk in spaced relation therebelow, the space defined betweensaid body and periphery of said central opening in the spacer diskcomprising a break-up and mixing zone wherein liquid jets from theapertures in the apertured disks are adapted to impinge on the enlargedportion of said body so as to be broken up and mixed with air in saidzone, and said spacer disk also having a plurality of inwardly extendingopenings spaced around its outer periphery and overlying the upper axialend of said skirt so as to provide a passage for the flow of airinwardly over the upper axial end of said skirt and thence into saidmixing zone and also downwardly into the spacebetween said skirt andsaid body in generally concurrent relation with the liquid flowing fromsaid inlet to said outlet.

6. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, an upright annular skirt disposed inv concentricspaced relation between said body and said ports for preventingsplashing of fluid outwardly through the latter, means closing theannular space between the casing and the lower axial end of said skirtbelow said ports so as to divert the passage of inlet air from saidports upwardly through the annular space between said casing and saidskirt, a spacer disk interposed between said apertured disk and theupper axial end of said skirt, said spacer disk having an enlargedcentral opening, and a break-up and mixing body depending rigidly fromsaid apertured disk through the central opening in said spacer disk,said body having a relatively restricted neck portion immediately belowsaid apertured disk and a radially projecting enlargement extendingabruptly from said neck portion with a downwardly curved annularshoulderin spaced relation below said apertured disk for impingement thereon ofjets of waterbfrom the apertures in said apertured disk,

said spacer disk also having a plurality of inwardly extending openingsaround its outer periphery and overlying the upper axial end of saidskirt so as to provide apassage for the flow of air inwardly over theupper axial end of said skirt into the interior of the device, the spacedefined between said body and the periphery of said central opening inthe spacer disk comprising a first break-up and mixing zone whereinliquid jets from the apertured disk are broken up and mixed with air,the space defined between the enlargement of said body and said skirtcomprising a second break-up and mixing zone wherein addi- 'tional airis entrained inthe liquid, and said first and second zones beingseparated by an annular flow restriction orifice defined between thedownwardly curved shoulder of said enlargement and the lower corner edgeof said central opening in the spacer disk whereby to impart softness tothe efiluent aerated stream from said outlet;

7. The device of claim 6 further characterized in that the area of saidorifice is greater than the total area of the apertures in saidapertured disk, and the minimum annular area between said body and saidskirt is greater than the total area of the apertures'insaid apertureddisk and also greater than the area of said orifice whereby to preventliquid from completely filling said first and second zones.

8. The device of claim 6 further characterized in that the interior ofsaid casing below said skirt is formed with a plurality of steppedlateral shoulder portions providing a gradually decreasing internaldiameter in the casing in the direction of flow toward said outlet, saidshoulders being inclined at a slight angle downwardly relative to theaxial direction of flow and radially outwardly relative,

' to said body whereby to facilitate further break-up and mixing ofliquid and air in the annular space between said shoulders and said bodyand also to retard and coalesce the efiluent aerated stream.

9. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending; transversely across the casing between saidinlet and saidv ports, a break-up and mixing body below said diskadapted to have liquid jets from the apertures in the disk impingethereon, and generally annular bafile means disposed between said portsand said body for diverting inlet from said ports upwardly toward saiddisk and thence at least in part downwardly between said bafile meansand said body in generally concurrent relation with the liquid flowingfrom said inlet to said outlet, said baflle means being in engagement atits lower portion with the interior wall of said casing below said airports to block the passage of air downwardly from said air ports intosaid casing and extending upwardly in spaced relation from said body andfrom the interior wall of said casing past and above said air ports andbeing spaced at its upper portion from the under surface of said disk.

10. An aerating device comprising a casing having an inlet and an outletat opposite ends thereof and lateral air ports in the wall thereof, anapertured disk extending transversely across the casing between saidinlet and said ports, a break-up and mixing body below said disk adaptedto have liquid jets from the apertures in the disk impinge thereon, anannular shield having a generally upright skirt portion disposed inconcentric spaced relation between said body and said ports forpreventing splashing of fluid outwardly through the latter, said shieldalso having a portion at the lower end of said skirt portion engaging,the interior of said casing below said ports for preventing passage ofair downwardly between the casing and theshield, and spacer meanssupporting said disk with at least:

portions thereof in spaced relation above the upper end of said skirtportion whereby to provide a passage for inlet air from said portsupwardly between the casing and the skirt portion and thence inwardlyover the upper end of said skirt portion and downwardly between saidskirt portion and said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

